European foreign ministers to meet with Iran in Geneva on Friday

 

The foreign ministers of France, Germany, and Britain, along with the EU's foreign policy chief, will meet with their Iranian counterpart for nuclear talks in Geneva on Friday, European diplomats said.

The meeting comes as European countries call for de-escalation amid the ongoing war between Israel and Iran and the Jewish state's targeting of nuclear facilities with the stated aim of preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

"We will meet with the European delegation in Geneva on Friday," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi announced Thursday in a statement carried by the official IRNA news agency.

European diplomats separately confirmed the planned talks, which are scheduled to include French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, British Foreign Secretary David Lamy, German Foreign Minister Johan Vadephul, and EU foreign policy chief Kaya Kallas.

Lamy is in Washington on Thursday, where he is scheduled to meet with his US counterpart, Marco Rubio, for talks on Iran, according to the State Department.

Trump has stated that he is considering military action against Iran's nuclear facilities, while Israel bombs Iran and Tehran responds with missile strikes.

Israel has killed a large number of Iranian officials in its strikes, but Araghchi's advisor confirmed that the minister was not affected by concerns that he could be the next target.

"Since the announcement of the foreign minister's trip to Geneva for negotiations with the European Troika, I have received several messages expressing concern that the Zionist regime might target him," Mohammad Hossein Ranjbaran wrote on the X platform.

Rangbaran emphasized that Araghchi "seeks martyrdom" and that "a major Israeli plot against him" was thwarted "in Tehran a few days ago."

France, Germany, the UK, and the European Union are parties to the 2015 nuclear deal, from which US President Donald Trump withdrew during his first term.

EU foreign policy chief Kaya Kallas stressed that diplomacy remains the best way to ensure that Iran does not develop a nuclear bomb.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday that European countries intend to propose a negotiated solution to end the war between Iran and Israel.

He asked his foreign minister to launch an initiative with "close European partners" to achieve this.

Barrow has been in regular contact with his German and British counterparts since Israel began large-scale airstrikes on Iran on Friday.

Barrow said in Paris after talks on the crisis on Thursday that the three countries "are ready to offer their expertise and experience on this matter."

He added, "We are ready to participate in negotiations aimed at persuading Iran to permanently roll back its nuclear and ballistic missile programs."

The minister emphasized "Iran's readiness to resume talks," including with the United States, "on the condition of a ceasefire."

Israel says its airstrikes aim to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Iran has enriched uranium to 60%, far exceeding the 3.67% limit set in the 2015 agreement with world powers, but still below the 90% threshold needed to produce a nuclear warhead.